science research symposium...miller, stephanie*, clinical laboratory sciences at university of...
TRANSCRIPT
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Acknowledgements
Symposium Organizers
Rebecca Landsberg & Jim Bonacum (Symposium Co-Chairs)
John Martin, Matt Evans, Yash Mhaskar (Moderators)
Jo Patterson & Lucia Vazquez (Program & Coordinators)
John Martin & Mike Lemke (Abstract Selection)
Keenan Dungey (Advertising & Duplication)
Jo Patterson & Marc Klingshirn (Announcements & Call for Papers)
Harshavarden Bapat & Wayne Gade (Budget & Expenses)
Harshavarden Bapat (Keynote Speaker)
Hua Chen, John Martin, Jim Veselenak (Judge & Moderator Selection
Committee)
Jim Bonacum & Rebecca Landsberg (Room & Food Arrangements)
Mary Ellen McElligott (Conference Services)
Janice Marvel (Space Coordinator)
Sponsors and Facilitators
Biology Department
Chemistry Department
Clinical Laboratory Science Department
The Biology Club
The Chemistry Club
Margot Duley, Dean CLAS
Paula Garrott, Science Division Director
UIS Research Board
UIS Speaker’s Award Committee
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Judges Oral Presentations Poster Presentations
Dr. Matt Evans(BIO) Dr. Hua Chen(BIO)
Dr. John Martin(ASP) Dr. Keenan Dungey(CHE)
Dr. Yashanad Mhaskar (CHE) Dr.Matt Evans (BIO)
Dr. John Martin (ASP) Dr. Karen Mooney (PSY
Dr. Amy McEuen (BIO)
Dr. Gary Trammell (CHE)
Dr. Jim Veselenak (CLS)
Special acknowledgement to student advisors, mentors and
collaborators - your guidance is essential for the training of
tomorrow’s scientists. Thank you.
The Eighth Annual
Science Research
Symposium
University of Illinois at Springfield
University Hall
2nd Floor – Room 2034
&
Health & Science Building
1st & 2nd Floor Corridors
18 April 2008
2
Note: * = student; underline = presenter
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8:30-9:00 INFORMATION TABLE & REFRESHMENTS
University Hall – 2nd Floor Lobby Area
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MORNING ORAL PRESENTATIONS (9:00-11:4O a.m.)
University Hall, Room 2034
Moderator: Dr. John C Martin (Professor of Astronomy/Physics)
9:00-9:10 Opening Remarks – Paula Garrott
UIS Director of Science Division
TECHNICAL SCIENCE PRESENTATIONS
9:10-9:30 On Ramanujan’s “Most Beautiful Identity” and Its
Generalization
Chen, Hei-Chi, Mathematical Sciences Department, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield IL 62712
9:30-9:50 Implementation of a Multi-Platform General Purpose
Distributed Computation Grid Verhulst, Michael*,. Liberal Studies and Computer Science, University of
Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703.
9:50-10:10 Preparation of Lithium Cobalt Oxide by Emulsion at High
Temperature and Low Temperature Hansen, Jennette* Steven Hynek , Andy Dunn, Anthony Kilburn, and
Keenan Dungey Chemistry Department , University of Illinois at Springfield,
Springfield, Illinois 62703
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10:10 – 10:20 REFRESHMENT BREAK
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Moderator: Dr. Matt Evans ( Professor of Biology)
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE PRESENTATIONS
10:20-10:40 Designing Primers to Amplify and Sequence Complete
Mitochondrial Genomes in Nautilus. Irlam, Justin* and Jim Bonacum, Biology Department, University of Illinois
at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
10:40 -11:00 Secondary production of benthic macroinvertebrates from
historical floodplain wetlands differing in restoration status
along the Illinois River, Illinois Negro, Jaclyn Michelle,* and A. Maria Lemke, Biology Department,
University of Illinois at Springfield, One University Plaza, Springfield, IL
62703 and Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 301 SW Adams St.,
Suite 1007, Peoria, IL 61602
39
NOTES
38
NOTES
3
11:00 – 11:20 In Situ and In Vitro Seed Germination of the Federally
Endangered Hawaiian Orchid, Platanthera holochila. Kirk, Anna K.* 1, Rebecca L. Turnquist 1, Steve Perlman 2, and
Lawrence W. Zettler 1. 1Orchid Recovery Program, Biology Department, Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois 62650; 2National
Tropical Botanical Garden, 3530 Papalina Road, Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii
96741
11:20 – 11:40 A Comparison of Genetic Variation in Nautilus
Populations from Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia,
and Vanuatu using Four Microsatellite Loci Mann, Trenae L.* and Jim Bonacum , Biology Department, University
of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
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11:45 - 12:15 Lunch On your own;
For our guests, we suggest dining at the UIS Food Court,
Lower Level, Public Affairs Bldg.
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12:15 – 1:15 POSTER SESSION EXHIBITS --- Health & Sciences
Building
1ST & 2ND FLOORS CORRIDORS
CHEMISTRY, PSYCHOLOGY, PRE-PROFESSIONAL &
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES POSTERS
[1] Fuel Behind The Fire: Synthesis of La2MVO6 (M = Ni2+, Zn2+)
Perovskites. Bley, Nicholas *, Alya Saqer, and Paris Barnes. Department of Chemistry, Millikin
University, 1184 West Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522.
[2] The Effects of Flood Pulsing on Four Wetland Plant Species: A
Comparison of Native and Non-Native Responses Borrowman, Megan E.* and Amy McEuen. Biology Department, University of Illinois at
Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
[3] Investigating of and Antioxidant Properties of Leaf Extracts From
Juglans Nigra, Quercus Alba, and Quercus Rubra Cassavant, Megan 2*, Rachel Olson1*, Wayne Gade3 ,Amy McEuen1, Gary Trammell2,
Lucia Vazquez1, and James Veselenak3
(1) Biology Department, (2) Chemistry Department, (3) Clinical Laboratory Science
Department, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
[4] The Role Of Pregnane X Receptor In Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Chen, Yakun*, Yong Tang, Shuqing Chen and Daotai Nie. Department of Medical
Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
and SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, Springfield, IL,62702
4
[5] Tolerance of Planorbis sp. to Varying Levels of Ammonium Hydroxide
in Aqueous Environments Daniels, Jordan E*. Biology Department, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL 62650
[6] Snow Goose Conservation in the Canadian Arctic Dugan, Brian J. and Matthew Evans. Biology Department, University of Illinois at Springfield,
Springfield, Illinois 62703
[7] Pupil Dilation In Response To Violent Images: Gamers And Non
Gamers Fisher, Heidi *, Psychology Program, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois
62703
[8] Applying The Principles of Green Chemistry to The Synthesis of Silica
Sol Gels Ganapathiraju, Pavan V.,* and Marc A. Klingshirn, Chemistry Department, University of
Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL 62703
[9] Chemical Studies on Agaricus Bisporus Harshani, H., Weerakoon, M., and Athar Ata*, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Bradley University ,1501West Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625-0208
[10] Critical Age-Related Loss of Cofactors of Neuron Cytochrome C
Oxidase Reversed by Estrogen Jones, Torrie T.* and Gregory J. Brewer , Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology,
and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 801 Rutledge, Springfield, IL
62702
[11] Identification of Bioactive Compounds From Bell Peppers Khoury, M. Tina, Andrew R. Ruddy and Athar Ata*,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bradley University , 1501 West Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625-0208
[12] SUMO1 suppresses c-Maf transactivation: an emerging role in the
contribution of autoimmune diabetes. Leavenworth, Jianmei Wu *1, Yin-yuan Mo1, and Mary E. Pauza1,
,,21Department of Medical
Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, and 2Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University
School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, 62702
[13] HuR, an mRNA stability protein, interacts with PlGF mRNA Leavenworth, Jonathan, Kathy Groesch, and Donald Torry, PhD., Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry Graduate Program, Department of Medical Microbiology,
Immunology, and Cell Biology Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SIU School of
Medicine, Springfield, IL.
[14] Analysis Of Self-Assembled Monolayers By Scanning Probe
Microscopy McLeod, Bronson,* Marc Klingshirn, Gary L. Trammell and Keenan E. Dungey, Chemistry Department, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL 62703
37
This presents a problem for individuals with inherited mutations
in the beta-globin gene. We are specifically interested in
mediating the relative concentrations of several potential
transcriptional “activators” of endogenous gamma-globin gene
expression as a stem cell gene therapy approach for the treatment
of Sickle Cell Anemia. To this end, we couple lentiviral vector-
mediated gene transfer to CD34+ stem cells with an experimental
culture system for generating massive numbers of red blood cells
from a relatively small starting CD34+ population. Perturbed
expression the gamma globin gene product can be demonstrated
by elevated levels of HbF using hemoglobin gel electrophoresis,
flow cytometry, and HPLC. Ultimately, findings from these
studies could result in the development of a novel therapy for
patients with hemoglobin disorders.
36
irradiated cells, most cells were CD133(+), but when the tumors
grew bigger, the CD133 positivity was reduced. To further study
the role of CSCs in radioresistance, we isolated CSCs from
DU145 or LNCaP cells and expanded them as prostaspheres. The
prostaspheres retained a high percentage of CD133(+) cells and
were able to differentiate in serum-rich media and form tumors
when injected into mice. When compared to parental DU145
cells, the CSCs from DU145 presented a higher resistance toward
radiation at 200 and 800 cGy as indicated by colony formation
assay. CSCs from LNCaP cells presented a much higher
resistance toward radiation at 800 and 2,000 cGy than parental
LNCaP. Taken together, our data suggest that prostate CSCs are
inherently more resistant to radiotherapy than non-CSCs and
surviving CSCs may lead to recurrence of tumors after
radiotherapy.
An Erythroid Differentation Assay to Test For Elevated Fetal
Hemoblobin (HbF) Production After Lentiviral Vector-
Mediated Gene Transfer to Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells Wilber, Andrew
1 , and Arthur Nienhuis
2, 1Department of Surgery, Southern
Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois 62794 and 2Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis,
Tennessee 38105
Sickle cell disease, which results from deficiency or severe
impairment of the beta-chain of hemoglobin, is a devastating
illness characterized by progressive organ damage leading to
death before the age of 50. This disease represents one of the
more common single gene disorders worldwide and the most
common inherited blood disorder in the United States, however,
treatment options are limited. Thus, the prospect of gene therapy
presents a significant opportunity for improved clinical outcome
in these patients.
Two major types of hemoglobin are produced during
development (i) fetal hemoglobin (HbF), consisting of two alpha-
and two gamma-globin subunits, and (ii) adult hemoglobin
(HbA), where beta-globin molecules replace gamma. HbF is
produced during embryonic development but progressively
declines after birth giving way to HbA for the duration of life.
5
[15] Changes in MAPK and PKC Pathway Proteins under stress due
to sleep fragmentation. Mhaskar, Yashanad,1 and Linda Toth2. 1Chemistry Department, University of Illinois at
Springfield; 2Department of Pharmacology, SIU School of Medicine
[16] Analysis of GHB in Alcoholic Beverages Miller, Stephanie*, Clinical Laboratory Sciences at University of Illinois at Springfield and
Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services, Research and Development Laboratory
[17] Shyness and Self-Presentation: Conscious and Non-conscious
Interactions in Self-Concept Formation. Moore, Isaac J.* , Jason Barker, Psychology Department, University of Illinois at
Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
[18] Apoptotic Threshold Is Lowered By c-Maf Transactivation Of
Caspase 6 In CD8 T Cells. Peng, Siying1*, Kounosuke Watabe1 and Mary E. Pauza1,2 ,
,1Department of Medical
Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, and 2Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, USA
[19] Using GIS to model habitat selection and nest site suitability of
Peregrine falcons in Arctic Canada Phillips, Brian L. *, Matthew Evans and Amy McEuen. Biology Department, University
of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois, 62703.
[20] Microbial Diversity and Water Quality in Connected and
Unconnected Lakes of the Illinois River Floodplain Randle, Michelle,1 Nathaniel Blood,2* Keenan E. Dungey,2 Michael J. Lemke1 , 1Biology
Department, 2Chemistry Department, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL.
[21] Shorebird Response to a Restoring Wetland Habitat: The
Increase in Species Abundance and Species Diversity. Scharaf, Michelle* and Matthew Evans.,*Biology Department, University of Illinois at
Springfield, Springfield, IL 62703. Emiquon Field Station, Havana, IL 62644, USA
[22] Shifts in Avian Biodiversity at the Emiquon Wetlands Restoration
Preserve Simonson, Curtis * and Matthew Evans. Biology Department, University of Illinois at Springfield, Illinois 62703
[23] Role of Progerin in Nuclear Abnormality during Tumorigenesis TANG, Yong *, Daotai NIE., Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell
Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and SimmonsCooper Cancer
Institute, Springfield, IL, 62702.
[24] Habitat Selection and Interspecific Competition in Four Species of
Loons in Arctic Canada Villicana, Matthew A.1,* 2Matthew R Evans, 1Department of Environmental Studies, 2Biology Department, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL 62703
Department of Biology, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL 62703
6
[25] Stem-like Cancer Cells in Prostate Tumor Recurrence after
Radiotherapy. Wang, Man-Tzu Yong Tang, & Daotai Nie. Department of Medical Microbiology,
Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, Springfield, IL
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AFTERNOON ORAL PAPER SESSION (1:20-2:40 p.m.)
UNIVERSITY HALL – ROOM 2034
MEDICAL SCIENCES
Moderators: Dr. Yashanad Mhaskar (Professor of Chemistry)
1:20-1:40 Generating a MicroRNA Library for Biological
Function Studies DeClerck, Katie*, Fangting Wu, Shoumin Zhu, Hailong Wu, Mohit
Sachdeva and Yin-Yuan Mo, Department of Medical Microbiology,
Immunology, and Cell Biology
1:40-2:00 The Effect of A Solubilizing Agent on Zone of
Inhibition Size When Testing Antimicrobial Activities
of Essential Oils Using the Disk Diffusion Method Jackson, Sarah N.* and Juanita B. Leonhard. Biology Program,
Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois, 62650
2:00-2:20 Use of Adenovirus Mediated Gene Delivery to
Characterize Placenta Growth Factor (PlGF) Gene
Expression in Human Primary Cells Chang, Miao 1,2 *, Kathy Groesch 1,2, Chris Chambers3 and Donald
S. Torry1 Departments of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and 3Surgery, Southern Illinois
University School of Medicine Springfield, Illinois
2:20-2:40 An Erythroid Differentation Assay to Test for
Elevated Fetal Hemoglobin (HbF) Production After
Lentiviral Vector-Mediated Gene Transfer to Human
Hematopoietic Stem Cells Wilber, Andrew1 , and Arthur Nienhuis2, 1Department of Surgery,
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois
62794 and 2Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105
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2:40 – 3:00 REFRESHMENT BREAK
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35
four loon species, and to determine if there is any interspecific
competition between the different species relating to habitat
selection. I believe that the four loon species have preferences for
specific habitat characteristics that they search for when selecting
an area to nest in and raise their young in. I also believe that the
presence of competitors influences the selection process by each
nesting pair, such that larger loon species are more able to defend
the highest quality habitat over smaller species. Therefore, I
predict a hierarchal pattern of habitat selection such that the larger
more aggressive species will occupy the highest quality nesting
habitats and the smaller species will be forced into lower quality
areas. From my research, I will also attempt to compile a list of
recommendations that allows managers to protect areas that
provide the habitat characteristics that are important to nesting
loons.
Stem-like Cancer Cells in Prostate Tumor Recurrence after
Radiotherapy. Wang, Man-Tzu Yong Tang, & Daotai Nie. Department of Medical
Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University
School of Medicine and SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, Springfield, IL.
Radiotherapy is a primary treatment modality for prostate cancer
but its efficacy is limited by the recurrence of resistant tumors.
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of tumor cells responsible
for transplantability of tumors, but their role in tumor recurrence
after treatment remain unproven. To investigate the biology of
CSCs in tumor recurrence after radiotherapy, tumor cells were
irradiated in vitro and then injected s.c. into mice to model tumor
recurrence from radioresistant tumor cells. It was found that
DU145 cells, after irradiation at 800 cGy, were still able to form
palpable tumors but the growth of tumors was significantly
compromised. To investigate whether CSCs survived from
radiation and gave rise to radioresistant tumors, we evaluated the
presence of CD133 antigen, a putative marker for stem cells, in
the recurring tumors by immunohistochemistry. Most cells were
negative for CD133 antigen in tumors derived from sham-
irradiated cells. In the small recurrent tumors derived from
34
distributed computation can be found in the inherent scientific
worth of certain difficult applications that can only be run in a
distributed environment. For example, complex molecular
structures can be analyzed by a distributed grid in an attempt to
deepen our understanding of the nature of diseases such as human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) potentially leading to new
treatments. The objective of this study is to verify the validity of
a client-server based computation grid utilizing a minimalistic
code base. My methods include programming, code optimization
and reduction, fault tolerance testing, and performance
benchmarking. My findings indicate that current technology
allows for the creation of a functional distributed grid client using
a few dozen lines of code. This means that very small clients can
be easily distributed, modified, and debugged. This ease of
maintenance is not commonly found in current distributed grid
clients which are often compiled from large complex code bases.
In summary, the significance of this research is that I have shown
that large powerful computation grids can be more easily set up
than was the case in the past.
HABITAT SELECTION AND INTERSPECIFIC
COMPETITION IN FOUR SPECIES OF LOONS IN
ARCTIC CANADA Villicana, Matthew A.,*1 Matthew R. Evans2, 1Department of Environmental
Studies, 2Biology Department, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield,
IL 62703
I am studying the habitat selection of four loon species that breed
in the northern part of Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada.
The four species of loons are the Yellow-Billed (Gavia adamsii),
Common (G. immer), Pacific (G. pacifica) and the Red-Throated
Loon (G. stellata). This study will involve location data collected
from aerial surveys during the summers of 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Loons have been well studied in other areas of the world, most
notably Alaska; however, very little work has been conducted on
the loons in Arctic Canada. My objectives are to determine the
important characteristics of the preferred habitat by each of the
7
3:00 - 4:00 KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Dr. Leonard MacGillivray
“Supramolecular Construction of
Functional Materials”
University Hall – Room 2034
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4:00-4:30 AWARD PRESENTATIONS : Best Student Poster
and Best Oral Presentation
Closing Remarks – Rebecca Landsberg
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4:30 – 6:00 SOCIAL & RECEPTION:
8
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
DR. LEONARD MACGILLIVRAY
“SUPRAMOLECULAR CONSTRUCTION
OF FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS” Leonard R. MacGillivray earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the
University of Missouri-Columbia. After working as a Research
Associate in the Functional Materials Program, at the National Research
Council of Canada, Dr. MacGillivray started his academic career in the
Department of Chemistry at the University of Iowa. He was tenured
and promoted ahead of schedule. He has published over 120 journal
articles and is a pioneering researcher in the field of Supramolecular
Chemistry. He has won numerous prestigious awards including the
American Chemical Society’s Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, the
Margaret C. Etter Early Career Award of the American
Crystallographic Association and is an elected Fellow of the Royal
Society of Chemistry.
33
identified in patients with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome
(HGPS), a severe disease characterized by accelerated aging.
Since aging is one of the biggest risk factors for carcinogenesis,
we examined whether progerin is expressed in cancer, and if so,
whether progerin contributes to carcinogenesis. Using RT-PCR
and western blotting, we detected the expression of progerin in
PC-3, DU145 and LNCaP cells at both mRNA and protein level.
Immunocytochemical staining of lamin A revealed substantial
nuclear invaginations in several cancer cells similar to those
described in HGPS cells. To study the potential role of progerin
in tumorigenesis, we over-expressed progerin in PC-3 and MCF7
cells. It was found that increased expression of progerin induced
increased nuclear invaginations and blebbings in PC-3 and MCF7
cells. However, the increased expression of progerin did not
induce cellular senescence as suggested by staining for
senescence-associated -galactosidase activities. To study the
role of progerin in tumorigenesis in vivo, we injected progerin-
transfected PC-3 cells into athymic nu/nu mice. It was found that
increased expression of progerin in PC-3 cells stimulated tumor
growth in vivo. Our study for the first time describes the
expression of progerin in a number of human cancer cell lines.
We found that progerin acted in a dominant manner to cause
DNA damages, induce abnormal nuclear shape and stimulate
tumor growth in vivo.
Implementation of a Multi-Platform General Purpose Distributed Computation Grid Verhulst, Michael*,. Liberal Studies and Computer Science, University of
Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703.
Many computationally expensive software applications (integer
factorization, protein folding, etc.) cannot be feasibly run on
mainstream off-the-shelf computer hardware. However, by
utilizing the distributed computational resources of multiple
individual computers, researchers can greatly expand the amount
of processing power available to them. Currently, the installation
of such a grid is time consuming, technologically complex, and
often requires expert assistance. The importance of the field of
32
Lake Chautauqua. This is an exciting opportunity to monitor the
success of a large-scale wetland restoration project. This study
will not only aid in understanding avian dynamics in a restoring
habitat but also help create a public awareness concerning the
importance of restoring and preserving natural habitat and avian
diversity.
Shifts in Avian Biodiversity at the Emiquon Wetlands
Restoration Preserve Simonson, Curtis * and Matthew Evans. Biology Department, University of
Illinois at Springfield, Illinois 62703
North America has lost around 75% of wetland habitat for water
birds in the 20th century, due primarily to agriculture turning
wetlands into farmland. During this time, drastic population
declines have occurred among most water bird species. The
Emiquon Wetland Restoration Project near Havana, Illinois is
returning over 7000 acres of farmland back into its original
wetland state. I hypothesize that as the preserve area ages, avian
species diversity, and the abundance of each species, will
gradually increase. To measure this, I will conduct bird surveys
throughout the migration (April and September) and breeding
seasons (June, July, August) of 2008 and 2009. Point-count
surveys will be conducted three times from 6:00 AM to 12:00
PM. It is my intention to monitor how successful the restoration
process is with respect to avian biodiversity in the first two years,
and to document what species return to the area, and how many
individuals of each species return. This will provide initial data
for future studies at the Emiquon preserve that will continue to
monitor changes as the area ages.
Role of Progerin in Nuclear Abnormality during
Tumorigenesis Tang, Yong *, Daotai NIE. Department of Medical Microbiology,
Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of
Medicine and SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, Springfield, IL, 62702.
Progerin is a truncated form of lamin A in which 50 amino acid
residues are deleted near the C-terminus as result of a point
mutation (1824C>T) in the LMNA gene, which was first
9
ABSTRACTS
Fuel Behind The Fire: Synthesis of La2MVO6 (M = Ni2+,
Zn2+) Perovskites. Bley, Nicholas *, Alya Saqer, and Paris Barnes. Department of
Chemistry, Millikin University, 118 West Main Street, Decatur, IL
62522. Perovskite samples targeted for synthesis focused on
La2MVO6 where M = Ni2+ and Zn2+. It is the potentially
interesting physical properties that “fuel the fire” associated
with the search for novel vanadium-containing perovskites.
Better and smaller electronic devices have been developed
from perovskite-based materials and understanding the
synthetic properties toward making new V-containing
materials is the driving force behind this project. This goal
can only be accomplished by learning how to control
vanadium’s oxidation state at elevated temperatures. Two
techniques used during this exploratory synthetic project
include direct solid-state reaction of metal oxides and
carbonates in air and under reducing conditions (5%
H2/95% Ar). The progress of this synthetic effort was
monitored using X-ray powder diffraction. Results of these
efforts to date will be presented here. After pure samples
are synthesized, physical properties such as electrical
conductivity and magnetism will be measured in the future.
The Effects of Flood Pulsing on Four Wetland Plant
Species: A Comparison of Native and Non-Native
Responses Borrowman, Megan E.* and Amy McEuen. Biology Department,
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
Invasive plants are a major contributor to wetland
degradation and frequently hinder restoration
attempts. Invasive plant seeds are able to incorporate into a
seed bank and germinate given the proper conditions. The
purpose of this study was to determine how flood pulsing
regimes may differentially affect growth and survival of
10
desired and undesired wetland plant species. This research tested
different flood pulsing treatments to try to find a regime that
increased the growth and germination of two desired native plant
species over two unwanted nonnative invasive
plants. Specifically, we compared the germination and growth
abilities of nonnative Phalaris arundinacea and native Boltonia
decurrents, under various flood pulsing treatments. These
variables were tested by growing the wetland species in 4 different
water regimes in a controlled greenhouse setting, a positive and
negative control along with a 20day flood pulse treatment, and a
40-70-40 pulsed treatment. Using above and below ground
biomass comparisons along with maximum and average heights, it
is clear that the saturated (+) control and 20 day pulse provided for
the best growth conditions, with B. decurrents having the highest
maximum height and above ground biomass in these treatments.
There was also a decline in above and below ground biomass for
P. arundinacea in all conditions when compared to the saturated
(+) control, though average height stayed fairly consistent across
all treatments. These data suggest the ability to manipulate flood
pulse regimes to help control the germination and survival of
nonnative wetland species may be a viable management option.
Investigating of Antibiotic and Antioxidant Properties of Leaf
Extracts From Juglans Nigra, Quercus Alba, and Quercus
Rubra Cassavant, Megan 2*, Rachel Olson1*, Wayne Gade3 ,Amy McEuen1, Gary
Trammell2, Lucia Vazquez1, and James Veselenak3, 1Biology Department, 2Chemistry Department, 3Clinical Laboratory Science Department, University
of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
We are interested in obtaining phytochemicals with enhanced
antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Leaf extracts of Juglans
nigra (black walnut), Quercus rubra (red oak), and Quercus alba
(white oak) were tested for antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.
Leaves were extracted with methanol (crude samples). Crude
extracts were partitioned between water and hexane. The aqueous
extracts (purified samples) were lyophilized and fractionated on
silica gel columns. Antimicrobial properties of all extracts were
tested against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus
31
turbidity). Water subsamples were analyzed for additional water
quality variables (i.e., chlorophyll a, nitrogen, phosphorus, total
bacterial number and suspended solids). The samples were also
divided into particle-associated bacteria (> 3.0 µm) and free-
living (3.0-0.2µm) by filtration. Diversity was measured by
separation of 180 bp 16S rDNA amplicons by denaturing gradient
gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Canonical discriminate analysis of
water quality variables revealed that the connected lakes grouped
more closely than unconnected lakes. DGGE results were
analyzed using Pearson’s Coefficient revealed that particle
associated bacterial communities for both years were different
between subsurface and bottom waters in 2006. Similar results
were shown for 2006 free-living communities. Water strata
variables may account for these differences (i.e., surface waters
with higher dissolved oxygen, lower turbidity in 2006). These
results support the idea that suspension status and water column
position affect bacterial community composition within
freshwater systems.
Shorebird Response to a Restoring Wetland Habitat: The
Increase in Species Abundance and Species Diversity. Scharaf, Michelle* and Matthew Evans.,*Biology Department, University of
Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL 62703. Emiquon Field Station, Havana,
IL 62644, USA.
Wetland restoration projects are being conducted worldwide
amongst these is the Emiquon Wetland Restoration Project at
Havana, IL. A study of shorebirds at this site will monitor the
changes in shorebird abundance and specie diversity in relation to
the wetland restoration process in 2008 and 2009. It is the
intention of this study to provide a better understanding of the
avian dynamics associated with wetland restoration and the
expected gradual increase in habitat quality. It is expected that
shorebird biodiversity will increase as the restoration project
progresses. Two to three point count surveys will be conducted
each week between 6:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. from mid-April to
Mid-September. Comparisons will be made to historical data
from the area and to contemporary data from nearby areas such as
30
natural resources such as nesting and foraging habitat. This study
will develop a distribution model of breeding habitat preferences
of the Peregrine falcon, subspecies tundrius, in northern Baffin
Island (Nunavut Territory, Canada) using GIS techniques to
characterize topographic features including slope, aspect, and
height of nest sites, as well as population measures such as
density and nearest neighbor distance. Proximity to food
resources will also be determined using distance to tundra, the
primary hunting ground where tundrius typically preys on
passerines and small mammals. Data for this study were collected
during 2006 and 2007 largely through aerial helicopter surveys,
as well as ground plot verification. The habitat variables for nest
sites will be evaluated using Akaike's Information Criteria (AIC)
to select the best combination amongst all variables considered
that yields the most parsimonious model for breeding habitat
suitability of the Peregrine falcon subsp. tundrius. This
information may enable land and wildlife managers to identify
and preserve potential breeding grounds to ensure the continued
success and possible range extension of the once endangered
Peregrine falcon.
Microbial Diversity and Water Quality in Connected and
Unconnected Lakes of the Illinois River Floodplain Randle, Michelle,1 Nathaniel Blood,2* Keenan E. Dungey,2 Michael J.
Lemke1. 1Biology Department, 2Chemistry Department, University of Illinois
at Springfield, Springfield, IL.
Because different populations of microorganisms respond
differently to environmental variables, study of bacterial
communities will likely yield good environmental indicators of
water quality. The objective of this study was to determine if the
bacterial community composition in subsurface and bottom
waters was different in lakes with different water quality. We
present results from two years of data comparing Illinois River
floodplain lakes seasonally connected to the river (n=3) and three
unconnected. Water samples (n=3; subsurface and near-bottom)
were collected in July 2006 and June 2007 along with field
measurements (dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and
11
faecalis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis using the disk
diffusion method. Zones of inhibition were measured and
compared to tetracycline (30mg) positive control. Leaf extracts
from Juglans nigra showed the most antimicrobial activity and
were the only extracts to show slight inhibition of Escherichia
coli. In general, Staphylococcus epidermidis exhibited the
largest zones of inhibition. The extracts from Quercus alba
showed the least antimicrobial activity against Enteroccocus
faecalis. Quercus rubra showed the least antimicrobial activity
against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Fractions with clear zones of inhibition were retained for further
study. Antioxidant activities were tested using the DPPH (2,2-
diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay. A
microplate DPPH assay using 2-fold serial dilutions was
developed to further screen active samples. Fractions with a
percent inhibition in the DPPH assay comparable to the ascorbic
acid positive control were retained for further study. Leaf
extracts from Juglans nigra showed the most antioxidant
activity while extracts from Quercus alba showed the least
antioxidant activity. Future studies will include isolation and
identification of the active compounds in the extracts.
Use of Adenovirus Mediated Gene Delivery to Characterize
Placenta Growth Factor (PlGF) Gene Expression in Human
Primary Cells
Chang, Miao 1,2 *, Kathy Groesch 1,2, Chris Chambers and
Donald S. Torry ,2 1, Departments of Medical Microbiology,
Immunology, and Cell Biology,2Obstetrics and Gynecology, and 3Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Springfield, Illinois
Basal PlGF expression is high in trophoblast but is
comparatively lower in most non-trophoblast. We previously
characterized PlGF promoter regions and showed that PlGF
transcription is cell type specific. However, tumor cell lines
often aberrantly express various genes, especially angiogenic
growth factors, and thus may not be an optimal model to study
gene regulation. Therefore, we sought to investigate regulation
12
of PlGF transcription in primary human cells. A 1.5Kb region
of the human PlGF 5’UTR linked to a β-galactosidase reporter
was cloned into adenovirus and used to infect primary
trophoblast and non-trophoblast cells. Primary cytotrophoblast
were isolated from human placentae of uncomplicated
pregnancies. Adenovirus infection conditions were optimized
utilizing adenovirus construct with luciferase and GFP reporters
in primary trophoblast. Cells were cultured under 21%O2 or
1% O2 for 24h or 48h to determine PlGF transcriptional
responses to hypoxia. Adenovirus produced 85% infection
efficiency in primary human cytotrophoblast with M.O.I of 200,
95% in skeletal muscle cells, 65% in fibroblast and 40% in
human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). PlGF 1.5Kb
produced highest promoter activity in primary trophoblast,
relatively low activity in HUVEC, but little activity in the lung
fibroblast or skeletal muscle cells. Promoter activity of this
region was significantly decreased in primary trophoblast
specifically cultured at 1% O2. These results confirm that basal
PlGF promoter activity is differentially regulated in primary
human cells. The differential effects of hypoxia regulating
PlGF transcription suggest unique mechanisms govern PlGF
expression in trophoblast under oxidative stress, which needs to
be further delineated.
On Ramanujan’s “Most Beautiful Identity” and Its
Generalization Chen, Hei-Chi, Mathematical Sciences Department, University of Illinois at
Springfield, Springfield IL 62712
Srinivasa Ramanujan (1877-1920) was one of India’s greatest
mathematical geniuses. He once discovered an identity which
G. H. Hardy (1988-1947), Sadleirian Chair of Mathematics at
Cambridge, considered it to be Ramanujan’s “Most Beautiful
Identity.” In this talk, we will discuss a generalization of this
wonderful identity. Curiously, our generalization is closed
connected to Ramanujan’s cubic continued fraction. Preprints
related to this talk can be found at http://people.uis.edu/hchan1/.
29
known of c-Maf function in T cells. Recently, we demonstrated
that c-Maf enhances susceptibility of CD8 cells to apoptosis
induced by multiple stimuli; however the mechanism responsible
is unknown. Flow cytometry, RT Profiler PCR array, real-time
RT-PCR (QRT-PCR), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP),
luciferase reporter, and fluorochrome inhibitor of caspases
(FLICA) assays were used to determine the molecular mechanism
responsible for c-Maf regulation of apoptosis in CD8 cells from
normal or genetically mutant mice. Our data suggest that c-Maf
enhancement of apoptosis is largely independent of Fas, IL-4 and
Bcl-2. PCR array and QRT-PCR assays reveal that the pro-
apoptotic gene caspase 6 is upregulated in c-Maf transgenic CD8
cells. Caspase 6 promoter activity is increased by c-Maf in a dose
dependent manner in luciferase reporter assays. Mutation
analyses identified a c-Maf recognition element (MARE) within
the Caspase 6 promoter that is critical for transactivation. c-Maf
binding to the MARE site is detectable by chromatin
immunoprecipitation using non-Tg T cell lysates, thus c-Maf can
interact with the Caspase 6 promoter in normal T cells. In FLICA
assays Caspase 6 activity is increased among CD8 cells from c-
Maf transgenic mice. As expected, activity of the downstream
caspases 3&7 are also increased. In conclusion, c-Maf increases
CD8 cell sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli, at least in part, by direct
transactivation of Caspase 6 thereby providing increased
substrate for caspase 6-dependent apoptosis pathways.
Using GIS to model habitat selection and nest site suitability
of Peregrine falcons in Arctic Canada Phillips, Brian L. *, Matthew Evans and Amy McEuen, Biology
Department, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois, 62703.
The Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) in North America
continues to recover from its endangered status in large part
because of the 1970's ban on the use of organochloride pesticides,
as well as successful efforts at reintroduction into areas where
populations had previously been extirpated. In addition to these
conservation strategies, the persistent survival of this species
depends on the ability to identify and effectively manage critical
28
Secondary production of benthic macroinvertebrates from
historical floodplain wetlands differing in restoration status
along the Illinois River, Illinois Negro, Jaclyn Michelle,* and A. Maria Lemke, Biology Department,
University of Illinois at Springfield, One University Plaza, Springfield, IL
62703 and Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 301 SW Adams St.,
Suite 1007, Peoria, IL 61602
Our research focuses on macroinvertebrate secondary production
and assemblage structure to better understand how wetland
management and restoration status relate to biodiversity and
ecosystem function. Macroinvertebrates were collected from
main pool areas of Big Lake (BL), a wetland mitigation site with
an unmanaged connection to the Illinois River, and Spunky
Bottoms (SB), a highly managed wetland with no direct
connection to the river. Tanypodinae and Chironominae
dominated both wetlands, but had higher annual production in BL
(191.7 g DM m-2 y-1) than SB (104.7 g DM m-2 y-1). Biomass
estimates were similar between near-shore habitats of BL and SB,
but were higher in open-water habitats for BL (1000-7500 mg
DM m-2) than SB (400-1700 mg DM m-2). Taxa richness was
higher in SB (32) than BL (22), reflecting the presence of
mayflies (Caenis sp.), damselflies, caddisflies and snails that did
not occur in BL. Higher taxa richness in SB likely reflects the
diverse aquatic plant assemblage dominating SB at the time of the
study compared to a lack of aquatic vegetation in BL. This study
will contribute to research currently being conducted along the
Illinois River addressing the complexities of restoring and
managing floodplain habitats for biodiversity and ecosystem
function.
Apoptotic Threshold Is Lowered By c-Maf Transactivation
Of Caspase 6 In CD8 T Cells. Peng, Siying1*, Kounosuke Watabe1 and Mary E. Pauza1,2
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, and 2Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine,
Springfield, Illinois, USA
c-Maf transactivates the IL-4 gene in T lymphocytes. Despite its
critical role in T helper (Th) 2 cell differentiation, little else is
13
The Role Of Pregnane X Receptor In Breast Cancer
Chemotherapy
Chen, Yakun*, Yong Tang, Shuqing Chen and Daotai Nie.,
Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell
Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and
SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, Springfield, IL,62702.
Resistance to drug treatment is a significant barrier to the
effective management of breast cancer. Pregnane X receptor
(PXR), an orphan nuclear receptor known for its activation by
many important clinical drugs, is a major transcription factor
regulating the expression of drug metabolism enzymes and
transporters, such as Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), and
MDR1 (multi-drug resistance gene). In this study, the
expressions of PXR in breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231
and MCF-7 and both normal and cancerous human breast
specimens were detected. Pretreatment of MDA-MB231 with
SR12813, a potent and selective PXR agonist, led to an
increased resistance to taxol at low concentrations. MCF-7 also
showed a significantly increased resistance to tamoxifen with
PXR preactivation. In addition, colony formations of SR12813-
pretreated MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were significantly
higher than that of no SR12813 pretreatment cells under the
pressure of cancer treatment drugs. PXR expression was
consistent during the SR12813 treatment, while a nuclear
translocation of PXR and increased CYP3A4 and MDR-1
expression were revealed, indicating a possible mechanism for
PXR-mediated drug resistance in breast cancers. For direct
evidence on the role of PXR in breast cancer drug resistance,
PXR expression was knocked down in MDA-MB-231 and MCF
-7 cells. All PXR-ablated clones reduced PXR binding activity
to the CYP3A4 promoter. Their sensitivities to taxol or
tamoxifen were enhanced. The reduced resistance of PXR
knockdown cells was further confirmed by reduced colony
formation ability under the pressure of cancer treatment drugs.
Our data suggest an important role of PXR in breast cancer
resistance to drug treatment.
14
Tolerance of Planorbis sp. to Varying Levels of Ammonium
Hydroxide in Aqueous Environments Daniels, Jordan E*. Biology department, MacMurray College, Jacksonville,
IL 62650.
Snails are vital primary consumers in aquatic ecosystems thus
anything that risks their reproductive cycles is a threat to the entire
aquatic ecosystem. Ammonium hydroxide is prevalent in both
industrial and agricultural applications and is therefore a common
pollutant of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However
little research has been conducted on how this chemical affects
organisms in these ecosystems. In this study snail (Planorbis sp.)
eggs were exposed to various concentrations of ammonium
hydroxide to determine effects on continued development. The
egg clusters were reared in Petrie dishes with either spring water
or varying concentrations of ammonium hydroxide solution, then
each dish was observed microscopically every two to four days to
determine progression of development. The majority of test
solutions were completely fatal to all test groups, and only under
very low concentrations of NH4OH were the snail eggs able to
survive in quantities comparable to the control groups. The results
of this study suggest that ammonium hydroxide can have severe
negative consequences for snail development, however further
research should be conducted to determine the effects of this
chemical on other organisms and aquatic ecosystems as a whole.
This study also raises many questions about how much
ammonium hydroxide should be allowed to enter aquatic
ecosystems without significant irreparable damage.
Generating a MicroRNA Library for Biological Function
Studies DeClerck, Katie*, Fangting Wu, Shoumin Zhu, Hailong Wu, Mohit
Sachdeva and Yin-Yuan Mo, Department of Medical Microbiology,
Immunology, and Cell Biology, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62702
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutional conserved, non-coding
RNA molecules found in eukaryotes that are known to regulate
gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. miRNAs have
been reported to be essential in development and in particular, to
be associated with oncogenesis. To date, over 500 human
27
Beverages laced with g-butyrolactone (GBL) or 1, 4-butanediol
(BD) were also tested with the same assays. GBL is metabolized
in the body into GHB, while BD is an analog of GHB. Results
indicated that a mixture of chlorophenol red and Modified-
Schweppes reagent was the best indicator for the presence of
GHB. All samples laced with GBL and BD resulted in a
negative finding for all three assays.
Shyness and Self-Presentation: Conscious and Non-
conscious Interactions in Self-Concept Formation. Moore, Isaac J.*,Jason Barker, Psychology Department, University of
Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
This study aims to explore if the conscious and non-conscious
mechanisms that are responsible for perception of self-relevant
information interact to produce coordinated shifts in
participants’ self-concepts. We hypothesize that the non-
conscious and conscious processes will produce shifts
independently of one another. A corollary prediction is that the
non-conscious processes may produce an activation that is
valence-free and thus interpreted in light of the present
conscious state. To influence implicit measures, participants are
exposed to subliminal primes. To influence explicit measures,
participants portray themselves in a manner relevant to shyness.
A preliminary data set suggests that implicit and explicit
measures of shyness are affected independently of one another,
and these shifts will support our first hypothesis. However, not
enough data exist to support the corollary hypothesis that the
implicit manipulation produces a shift according to the
conscious perceptions of self. Insofar as we consider the
interactions of conscious and non-conscious perceptions of self,
our study aims to integrate two distinct methodologies and thus
integrate two distinct lines of research aimed at self-concept
formation.
26
Changes in MAPK and PKC Pathway Proteins under stress
due to sleep fragmentation. Mhaskar, Yashanad,1 and Linda Toth2. 1Chemistry Department,
University of Illinois at Springfield; 2Department of Pharmacology, SIU
School of Medicine
Sleep deprivation or fragmentation has been linked to various
disease states and also reduces quality of life. We investigated if
there are any changes in protein levels from the Mitogen
Activated Protein Kinase and Protein Kinase C pathways,
caused due to sleep fragmentation in two different strains
(C57BL/6J and Balb/c) of mouse liver. Mice were subjected to
sleep fragmentation for three days and protein array analysis
technology was utilized to determine relative proportions of the
proteins between controls and sleep fragmented mice. Our
preliminary results show more than 50% increase/decrease in
lots of proteins that act as serine/threonine specific kinases,
transcription factors and signal regulatory protein. The changes
were different between two different strains of mice. We also
found a change in Estrogen receptor protein. Our results did not
reveal which of the two forms (ER-α and ER-β) happen to get
affected under sleep fragmentation. Estrogen receptors have a
functional role in physiology and disease. Changing protein
level of the estrogen receptor due to stress can have serious
adverse effect. We now plan to investigate the protein levels of
the two forms of estrogen receptor under stress conditions.
Analysis of GHB in Alcoholic Beverages Miller, Stephanie*, Clinical Laboratory Sciences at University of Illinois at
Springfield and Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services, Research
and Development Laboratory
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a substance that has become
increasingly popular as a date rape drug since the 1980’s. GHB
is abused recreationally and its ingestion causes sedation, mild
amnesia and, higher doses can result coma and death. Improved
field tests for GHB are urgently needed because a large number
of sexual assaults occur after GBH is spiked into alcoholic
beverages. In this study, one-ounce beverages were laced with
one gram of GHB and tested with three colorimetric assays.
15
miRNAs have been identified. However, the role of many
miRNAs in oncogenesis has not been investigated.
To determine miRNA function, we attempted to clone all known
miRNAs to generate a miRNA library. We first amplified each
of pre-miRNAs and then cloned into a PCR vector. We finally
cloned them into a lentiviral vector under control of CMV
promoter. To determine whether these cloned fragments produce
mature miRNAs, we introduced them individually into 293T
cells by transfection. Real-time PCR was performed to detect
expression of mature miRNAs from the transfected cells. To
explore the potential of this library, we made viral particles and
infected non-invasive breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and
performed invasion assays.
We generated a first version of the library carrying 330
miRNAs. By real-time PCR we verified that these cloned
miRNA constructs produced mature miRNAs from 10 to 1000
fold higher than the endogenous miRNAs. Moreover,
preliminary results with invasion assay indicated that this
miRNA library contained miRNAs that caused the non-invasive
MCF-7 cells to invade matrix gel. Experiments are under way to
identify which miRNAs are responsible for observed
invasiveness.
The miRNA library has the tremendous potential and it can be
used combined with a variety of assays to investigate clinical
related questions. Therefore, its application is not limited to the
area of cancer research.
Snow Goose Conservation in the Canadian Arctic
Dugan, Brian J. and Matthew Evans. Biology Department,
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
We are studying snow goose habitat selection during spring and
fall migrations in the Canadian Arctic (Baffin Island, Nunavut
Territory). Over 100,000 snow geese use areas on Baffin Island
for important migratory stop-over locations, to refuel, and to
molt their feathers. Determining the locations and habitat
16
features of these stop-over sites will aid our ability to protect
and conserve Canada’s largest population of breeding snow
geese. It will also offer an opportunity to monitor the number
of birds that migrate through this area every year, and to
monitor the health of the population. Numerous aerial surveys
were conducted from May-September of 2006 and 2007 and
locations of snow goose flocks were recorded. Data analysis
will include multi-variant comparisons between the habitat
characteristics of those areas occupied by geese and those areas
that are avoided. Determining the areas and habitat
characteristics that are important to the successful migration of
these animals will help us conserve and manage this large
population. It is the intention of this study to recommend policy
measures that will prevent the disturbance of these birds during
the sensitive time of migration when they are nutritionally
stressed.
Pupil Dilation In Response To Violent Images: Gamers
And Non Gamers Fisher, Heidi *, Psychology Department, University of Illinois at
Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
The intention of this study is to investigate the relationship
between playing video games and desensitization, aggression,
and empathy. It has been proposed that playing video games
that expose the players to, and includes them in, violence leads
to the player themselves becoming increasingly aggressive and
violent. I examined the pupil response of violent game players
and non violent game players when exposed to violent vs.
neutral images. I also tested participants on measures of
aggression and empathy. I am also looking into comparative
results in sports players, examining the possibility that a
competitive nature may also account for trends in aggression. I
have obtained data from 55 participants and I am currently
examining the results.
25
Guinea acted as the source population for the migrants that
established these new populations. To determine if the
populations in Papua New Guinea are the source of this modern
day radiation, we will compare data for four microsatellite loci for
20 Nautilus samples collected from each of three populations of
Nautilus in Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. If
the Papua New Guinea population is the source of the current
radiation, comparisons of allelic variation at the four microsatellite
loci will be expected to show the highest genetic diversity in the
source population near Papua New Guinea. Presumably only a
small number of migrants from this population would be needed
to establish a new population. Consequently, we anticipate that
only a subset of the genetic diversity in the source population will
appear in the newly established populations in New Caledonia and
Vanuatu. These data may also allow us to determine the route,
order and timing of these migration events.
Analysis Of Self-Assembled Monolayers By Scanning Probe
Microscopy McLeod, Bronson,* Marc Klingshirn, Gary L. Trammell and Keenan E.
Dungey, Chemistry Department, University of Illinois at Springfield,
Springfield, IL 62703
Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is an instrument for analyzing
and imaging at the nanometer scale. Through a recent NSF grant,
UIS has acquired an SPM and is incorporating it into the
undergraduate chemistry curriculum. We will present our
progress in implementing an experiment to analyze self-assembled
monolayers. Thiols with long hydrocarbon chains spontaneously
form ordered layers onto a gold or silver substrate. The surface
properties of these layers differ greatly from the uncoated metal,
as can be seen in the water contact angle. We have further
characterized the surface properties by looking at images of the
surface in contact mode atomic force microscopy and with lateral
force microscopy. In addition, we have looked at the adhesive
properties at certain points of the surface by collecting force-
distance curves. The ultimate measure of the success of this
project will be in the ability of other undergraduates to repeat
these procedures and carry out the analyses themselves.
24
during hypoxia/oxidative stress. To initiate, the PlGF 3’UTR
was analyzed for consensus 3’AREs, and PlGF mRNA half-life
was measured in normal vs. stressed conditions. To characterize
stability regulation, the PlGF 3’UTR was cloned into a reporter
construct. To investigate association between PlGF mRNA and
RNA Binding Proteins, a RIP assay was performed on
trophoblast. Consensus ARE motifs were detected at 42nt and
91nt downstream of the human PlGF coding region. Identical
and spatially conserved ARE motifs were found in bovine, rat,
and mouse PlGF 3’UTR. Time-dependent decrease of PlGF
mRNA was observed in stressed-conditions. PlGF 3’UTR
altered luciferase-reporter expression relative to a site-directed
mutant. Real-Time PCR detected significant PlGF mRNA in an
immunoprecipitation assay for HuR, which may suggest that
PlGF mRNA and the HuR protein interact. These results
suggest that post-transcriptional mechanisms may regulate PlGF
mRNA expression in stressed trophoblast. This mechanism
allows for rapid control of gene expression and may represent a
new target for therapeutic attempts to restore PlGF expression
in pathophysiologic conditions such as preeclampsia.
A Comparison of Genetic Variation in Nautilus Populations
from Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu
using Four Microsatellite Loci Mann, Trenae L.* and Jim Bonacum, Biology Department, University of
Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
The Nautiloids are an ancient lineage of externally shelled
cephalopods. The fossil record indicates that this lineage has
repeatedly undergone periods of radiation following bottlenecks
caused by mass extinction events. The lack of Nautiloid fossils
in strata less than 5 million years old indicates that they have
recently experienced another bottleneck event. A recent study
indicates that Nautilus are currently undergoing a radiation
event throughout the Indo Pacific that is establishing new
populations and creating new phylogenetic species. This study
suggests populations of Nautilus in the ocean near Papua New
17
Applying The Principles of Green Chemistry to The
Synthesis of Silica Sol Gels Ganapathiraju, Pavan V.,* and Marc A. Klingshirn
Chemistry Department, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
62703
Silica sol gels are an important class of designer materials. They
have applications in areas such as optics, sensors, catalysis, and
environmental separations. In each of these applications, it is
important that the morphology (porosity) of the resulting
material be controllable and be reproducible. One method that
can be used to control the morphology is by incorporating a
drying control chemical additive (DCCA) into the synthesis.
One problem is that these additives are not always considered
“green”, since they are often derived from petroleum based
starting materials. In this work we plan to apply the Principles of
Green Chemistry to the synthesis process by using sesame oil,
sunflower oil, or corn oil as the DCCA. The resulting effects on
the morphology of the new materials will then be determined.
Using oils such as these would decrease hazards, use reagents
that stem from renewable resources, and potentially allow for
the reuse of waste materials, which all follow the Principles of
Green Chemistry.
Preparation of Lithium Cobalt Oxide by Emulsion at High
Temperature and Low Temperature Hansen, Jennette* Steven Hynek , Andy Dunn, Anthony Kilburn, and
Keenan Dungey, Chemistry Department, University of Illinois at
Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
Today’s gadgets are powered by lithium batteries. Our research
is being conducted to increase the efficiency of the lithium
batteries. The hypothesis is that porous LiCoO2 will improve
the rechargeability of the battery, and so we are exploring
synthetic schemes to increase the porosity. In this presentation
we will report our preparation of LiCoO2 from porous
precursors. Co(OH)2 was formed via an emulsion solution
under either constant pH or variable pH. After drying in air, the
cobalt hydroxide was heated to form Co3O4. Co3O4 and
18
Li2CO3 were mixed and heated to form the final product of
LiCoO2 in the high temperature preparation (900 oC). A low
temperature preparation (600 oC) was performed by freeze-
drying Co(OH)2 with LiOH. FTIR spectroscopy was used to
verify acceptable purity. PXRD was used to confirm the
identity of the products. SEM images of the LiCoO2 indicate
the porous nature of the low temperature samples.
CHEMICAL STUDIES ON AGARICUS BISPORUS Harshani, H., Weerakoon, M., and Athar Ata*, Department of
Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bradley University ,1501West Bradley
Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625-0208
Natural products have been important for their medicinal
properties for hundreds of years. Ancient medicine made use
of plants to cure various diseases and infections. Today with
new technologies, the active molecules of plants, fungi and
marine organisms have been isolated to develop new drugs
with various properties and potencies.
Agaricus bisporus, the most popular mushroom in North
America known as Portabella or Crimini, is a gilled
mushroom with two-spored basidia, instead of the usual four.
We are working on the isolation of anti-bacterial compounds
from the methanolic extract of A. bisporus. The crude extract
was evaluated for antibacterial activity and preliminary data
was very encouraging and our chemical studies have resulted
in the isolation of new natural products. In this presentation,
isolation and structure elucidation of natural products and
their antibacterial activity data will be discussed.
Designing Primers to Amplify and Sequence Complete
Mitochondrial Genomes in Nautilus. Irlam, Justin* and Jim Bonacum, Biology Department, University of
Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Illinois 62703
Current phylogenetic studies in Nautilus have been based
upon two fragments of the mitochondrial genome, a 388 base
pair region of the large ribosomal subunit (16s) and a 423 bp
region of the Cytochrome Oxidase I gene (COI). In order to
obtain additional data we are utilizing a long range PCR
23
promoter in non-obese diabetic mouse model (NOD) CD4 cells
following in vitro stimulation, demonstrated by chromatin
immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. This defective binding
activity is conferred by a novel modification of c-Maf by small
ubiquitin-like modifier-1 (SUMO1). Sumoylation of c-Maf is
facilitated by direct interaction with Ubc9, a SUMO E2
conjugation enzyme. SUMO-c-Maf level is enhanced in cells
overexpressing SUMO1 and CD4 cells following TCR/CD28
engagement. We find that Lysine 33 at the c-Maf
transactivation domain is the SUMO acceptor site. Luciferase
assay shows that sumoylation of c-Maf represses its
transactivation of the IL-4 gene, acting to reduce its binding to
the IL-4 promoter. Corresponding to this impaired binding
ability, SUMO1-modified c-Maf is sequestrated into distinct
nuclear bodies and thereby away from its target. Notably, an
elevated SUMO-c-Maf is present in NOD CD4 cells compared
to diabetes-resistant B10.D2 counterparts. These data suggest a
potential mechanism in which SUMO-dependent attenuation of
c-Maf transactivation ability may contribute to the development
of T1D in NOD mice, implying sumo-c-Maf as a novel
therapeutic target for treatment of human autoimmune diabetes.
HuR, an mRNA stability protein, interacts with PlGF
mRNA Leavenworth, Jonathan, Kathy Groesch, and Donald Torry, Molecular
Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry Graduate Program, Department of
Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL.
PlGF expression is downregulated in preeclampsia, a leading
cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. The
pathophysiology of preeclampsia is thought to be manifested in
placental trophoblast through hypoxia/oxidative stress. Stress
responses demand tightly-regulated mechanisms of gene
expression. Post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA stability,
which results from the interaction of trans-acting RNA stability
proteins with cis-acting A/U rich elements (ARE), is one such
control mechanism. We are investigating whether post-
transcriptional regulation of PlGF mRNA occurs in trophoblast
22
medium (P723). Efforts are now underway to establish these
seedlings ex vitro for eventual release into Hawaii.
Identification of Bioactive Compounds From Bell Peppers
Khoury, M. Tina, Andrew R. Ruddy and Athar Ata*,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bradley University ,
1501 West Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625-0208 Natural product chemistry has played a significant role in
discovering new pharmaceuticals. For instance, taxol, an
anticancer agent, was isolated from pacific yew tree. It is well
documented in the literature that approximately 60% of the
commercially available drugs are of natural product origin.
Bell peppers are reported to have anticancer, antioxidant and
antibacterial activities. Our initial screening suggested that the
active ingredient responsible for aforementioned activities is
pipatiline. Based on these data, we designed a project to
isolated this compound on a large scale using antibacterial
activity directed isolation method. It is our intention to study
the structure-activity relationships on this compound in order
to determine the presence of active pharmacophore.
Determination of this pharmacophore will help us in
designing new antibacterial agents. In this presentation,
isolation and structure elucidation of natural products and
their antibacterial activity data will be presented.
SUMO1 suppresses c-Maf transactivation: an emerging
role in the contribution of autoimmune diabetes. Leavenworth, Jianmei Wu *1, Yin-yuan Mo1, and Mary E.
Pauza1,21Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell
Biology, and 2Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of
Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, 62702
c-Maf is a transactivator for IL-4 gene expression and
mediates type-2 (Th2) immune responses. Defects in Th2
immune responses occur in autoimmune diseases, including
type 1 diabetes (T1D), and may result from abnormal c-Maf
function. Here we report that c-Maf fails to bind to the IL-4
19
approach. By combining the PCR primers that we use to
amplify these fragments, with long range DNA polymerase we
were able to amplify the 4,617 bp region of the mitochondrial
genome between the two gene regions. Chromosome walking
was used to obtain fragments of the sequence between the COI
and 16s regions. These fragments were assembled into contigs
that contain the entire sequence of this region. Recently, the
complete mitochondrial genome sequence has been published
for N. macromphalus. We compared our contigs to the
positions of the genes from this study and the gene order
appears to be conserved within Nautilus mitochondrial
genomes. Using the published mitochondrial genome sequence,
and amino acid sequences from a diverse set of taxa for the
remaining mitochondrial gene regions, we are designing
additional PCR primers to amplify the rest of the mitochondrial
genome using the long range polymerase approach. Our goal is
to design a set of primers that can amplify and sequence a series
of short (1000-1500 bp) fragments that can be combined into
entire mitochondrial genome sequences for all known species of
Nautilus. These data will provide a valuable source of
information for future phylogenetic and population level studies
of Nautilus.
The Effect of A Solubilizing Agent on Zone of Inhibition
Size When Testing Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils
Using the Disk Diffusion Method Jackson, Sarah N.* and Juanita B. Leonhard, Biology Program, Illinois
College, Jacksonville, Illinois, 62650
The disk diffusion method in the absence and presence of a
solubilizing agent, Tween 80, was evaluated for determining
antimicrobial activity of essential oils, Eucalyptus Globulus,
Eucalyptus Lemon, Lavender French, Basil Holly and Tea Tree.
Ten replicates of the two assays were performed using
Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens,
Pseudomonas aeruginosia and Candida albicans. All of the
essential oils with Tween 80 resulted in a greater zone of
inhibition when tested against E. coli. A greater zone size was
present when Basil Holly, Eucalyptus Globulus and Eucalyptus
20
Lemon with Tween 80 were tested against P. aeruginosia.
None of the essential oils with Tween 80 showed an increase
in zone size when tested against Serratia marcescens,
Staphylococcus aureus or Candida albicans. The addition of
a solubilizing agent such as Tween 80 can increase the ease
with which the oil being tested moves through the agar.
However, this was dependent upon the oil and organism
tested. The results emphasize that the analysis of
antimicrobial activity of essential oils by the disk diffusion
method is difficult to standardize.
Critical Age-Related Loss of CoFactors of Neuron
Cytochrome C Oxidase Reversed by Estrogen Jones, Torrie T.* and Gregory J. Brewer , Department of Medical
Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois
University School of Medicine, 801 Rutledge, Springfield, IL 62702
The mechanistic basis for the correlation between
mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegenerative disease is
unclear, but evidence supports involvement of cytochrome C
oxidase (CCO) deficits with age. Neurons isolated from the
brains of old (24-month) and middle-age (9-month) rats and
cultured in common conditions provide a model of intrinsic
neuronal aging. In situ CCO activity was decreased in old
neurons relative to middle-age neurons. Possible CCO-related
deficits include holoenzyme activity, cofactor, and substrate.
No difference was found between neurons from old and
middle-age rats in mitochondrial counts per neuron, CCO
activity in submitochondrial particles, or basal respiration.
Immunostaining for cytochrome C in individual mitochondria
revealed an age-related deficit of this electron donor. Old
neurons did not have adequate respiratory capacity to
upregulate respiration after a glutamate stimulus, in spite of a
two-fold upregulation of respiration seen in middle-age
neurons. Respiration in old neurons was inhibited by lower
concentrations of potassium cyanide, suggesting a 50% deficit
in functional enzyme in old compared to middle-age neurons.
In addition to cytochrome C, CCO requires cardiolipin to
21
function. Staining with nonylacridine orange revealed an age-related
deficit in cardiolipin. Estrogen treatment of old neurons restored
cardiolipin levels and upregulated respiration under glutamate
stress. Attempts to induce mitochondrial turnover by neuronal
multiplication also rejuvenated CCO activity in old neurons. These
data suggest cytochrome C and cardiolipin levels are deficient in old
neurons, preventing normal upregulation of respiration needed for
oxidative phosphorylation in response to stress. Furthermore, the
data suggest this deficit can be corrected with estrogen treatment.
In Situ and In Vitro Seed Germination of the Federally
Endangered Hawaiian Orchid, Platanthera holochila. Kirk, Anna K.* 1, Rebecca L. Turnquist 1, Steve Perlman 2, and Lawrence W.
Zettler 1. 1 Orchid Recovery Program, Biology Department, Illinois College,
Jacksonville, Illinois 62650; 2 National Tropical Botanical Garden, 3530 Papalina
Road, Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii 96741
Platanthera holochila (Hbd.) Krzl. (Orchidaceae) is a U.S.
Federally listed (endangered) terrestrial orchid endemic to the
Hawaiian archipelago. Fewer than three dozen plants are thought to
exist within the cloud forests of Kauai, Maui, and Molokai.
Although protected, this species is threatened by feral pigs, habitat
encroachment by exotic species, and human activity, prompting
vigorous attempts to cultivate the species from seed. All orchids,
including P. holochila, are thought to require mycorrhizal fungi in
nature to prompt seedling development. Consequently, a seed
baiting technique was employed to recover and identify the fungi
associated with this orchid in situ, and to use the resulting fungal
strains to cultivate the orchid in vitro (= symbiotic germination).
Leafless, mycotrophic seedlings (protocorms) of P. holochila were
recovered from seed baits placed on Molokai the previous year
(2003). All seedlings yielded fungi assignable to the ubiquitous
anamorphic genus Epulorhiza. These strains, along with a highly
effective Epulorhiza strain from Florida (E. repens, UAMH 9824),
were applied to P. holochila seeds in vitro. Leaf bearing seedlings
were obtained with the fungus from Florida, but none of the
Hawaiian isolates prompted development, raising conservation
concerns. As a result, asymbiotic germination was also attempted
spanning three different media (Knudson C, Murashige & Skoog,
P723). To date, leaf bearing seedlings have been obtained on one